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I have just discovered this 'diet' and am about to order the SWAMI kit but I need some help answering the questions. Can someone help me?

1. I can drink coffee before bed and have no trouble sleeping; but I can't drink it before a show and then sit quietly for 2 hours, my legs will twitch. Also, while I don't generally require a lower dosage of most drugs, I DO experience the side effects (I never look at the side effects before taking to avoid triggering them). The drug I take for migraines works for 12 hours yet has a half-life of 2-3 hours. Am I a fast acetylator or not?

2. My father died of cancer but he smoked several packs a day. Do I count him? It wasn't lung cancer; he had throat cancer, a brain tumor, and cancer throughout his body. My half sister (on my father's side), who also smokes, was just diagnosed with breast cancer but her mother died of cancer (she smoked, too) so I don't know whether to count her or not. My grandfather died of liver cancer so I already have one cancer relative. Do I have two? Three?

3. It seems like my fingers are 1/8" different. Is that close enough to call them 'same'? I had a lot of trouble measuring them.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

1. I don't know the answer to your question, but please know that SWAMI locks the caffeine question shortly after you complete your profile. I'm not pleased about this, because I never drink coffee so I don't know if I'm sensitive. I carefully avoided answering the caffeine question, but SWAMI has me locked in as not sensitive.

2. SWAMI asks "yes or no" for siblings, parents, and grandparents. This one doesn't lock, so you can try it both ways and see how it affects your results.

3. SWAMI asks for the length of each index and ring finger in millimeters. Again, no locking, so you can try it different ways if you're not sure of the measurements.

1.- If you can drink coffee before going to bed and sleep OK, I say you are non sensitive to coffee.

2.- Yes to father, sister and grandfather for the cancer. The fact that your dad smoked would have already affected your dna somehow ... the environmental exposures of our ancestors have an influence in our make up ... Dr D has numerous talks about that.

3.- Do the best you can with measuring to nearest mm ... Have you watched the videos that guide you with these?

Also, take notice that any locked fields, can be changed by ringing SwamiX help or contacting them on line. You will find the details in your SwamiX online help tabs, I think the support tab.

Well done in getting SwamiX ... Keep at it to get your personalized lifestyle report!! just for you! Enjoy!

Cristina, yes, I watched the video but can't figure out where the highest point of my finger tip is, they're sort of rounded.

Can caffeine sensitivity change? I haven't had it at night in ages. Unlike many other people who drink it, like my DH who 'needs' a cup or two in the morning (yet can still drink it and sleep), I drink it for the taste and never noticed that it did anything to my energy levels. I usually have half a cup in the morning and get a headache when I go off it for several days even with that small amount.

Some teas, though, will make me restless and cause my heart to race. I hate the feeling.

I always hated the fact that my father smoked. I'm super sensitive to it and can smell it a mile away. I'll have to read the other threads on it.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Cristina, yes, I watched the video but can't figure out where the highest point of my finger tip is, they're sort of rounded.

Can caffeine sensitivity change? I haven't had it at night in ages. Unlike many other people who drink it, like my DH who 'needs' a cup or two in the morning (yet can still drink it and sleep), I drink it for the taste and never noticed that it did anything to my energy levels. I usually have half a cup in the morning and get a headache when I go off it for several days even with that small amount.

Some teas, though, will make me restless and cause my heart to race. I hate the feeling.

I always hated the fact that my father smoked. I'm super sensitive to it and can smell it a mile away. I'll have to read the other threads on it.

With this extra information, I think I will tick Yes, to caffeine sensitivity ... most teas have caffeine too and having withdrawal symptoms means it gets a hook on you and does not want to let go ...

I can drink coffee and stop for a few days and I will not notice anything different ... so I am not sensitive for the time being ... but I believe with the passing of time sensitivity can change one way or another, depending how healthy and fit our body gets ...

Regarding the fingers, put your palm on a piece of paper on a flat surface, trace your finger with a pencil and see if that makes it easier to measure them ...

Time to stop hating and shift that energy to get you on track to suppress the 'bad guys' and bring forward the 'good guys' that are in jail at the moment inside us ...

Time to stop hating and shift that energy to get you on track to suppress the 'bad guys' and bring forward the 'good guys' that are in jail at the moment inside us ...

Yes, I can't wait to see what SWAMI has in store for me. Why don't they offer it as a download so we don't have to wait?

My diet at the moment follows the Weston A. Price protocol. I don't eat any manufactured foods, grains, or starchy vegetables and have recently eliminated sugar although I practically lived on all of them until a few years ago. We eat primarily organic produce, pasture raised beef and eggs, raw sprouted nuts, and unpasteurized dairy but we do cook most of our food. We use only Himalayan salt and I make all our condiments (mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup etc...).

I think I'm an O+ but will call my doctor tomorrow and verify. If I'm right, then I should be eating more protein but I really don't like meat, any meat, and can only eat it if it's slathered in sauce. I've always looked younger than my age and have no serious medical problems but I do suffer from both allergies and migraines. Could eating more meat have prevented 40 years of suffering???

It was the migraines that prompted all my dietary changes and led me here. I was raw vegan for several months and my migraines vanished but I was so tired I gave it up. Now, I get a migraine 3-4 times a month whereas I used to get them 3 out of every 4 days.

I really, really want to know what foods I should be eating to maximize my health but I will also need to know why. Hopefully SWAMI doesn't just issue edicts, it also explains the science behind them.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Use a transparent ruler and lay it on top of the finger. That way you can look straight down on it and see where the fingertip ends.

Brilliant! That worked, I think. I'm a Gatherer. If I did it wrong, though, I might be an Explorer.

My strength meter for Gatherer is between 11 and 19.My strength meter for Explorer is between 11 and 16.

I may need to see a pro to break the tie.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

The technical explanation is found in the generative medicine textbook.

If you do not ask for an abbreviated diet report, a brief explanation diet plan is included in the report.

I might need the textbook.

The GenoType Diet book arrived today and, if I measured my fingers correctly, I am probably a Gatherer which is OK because many of the diamonds and superfoods are favorites.

However, if I’m to give up yogurt, black pepper, chili powder, cauliflower, leeks and mayonnaise I need the reason!

The general guidelines in the book didn’t help. For instance, it says, “these superfoods are rich in vitamins, minerals, purines, and nucleotides from proteins and cultured foods.” But, yogurt, pickles, natto, sour cream, and sauerkraut are all avoids and they’re both cultured and loaded with nutrients.

Why is natto an avoid? It’s the best source of vitamin K2 and many of us older folks need more of it.

Why are leeks an avoid when onions, shallots and garlic are all superfoods?

Fresh jalapeno is a superfood but chili powder is an avoid? I can’t often find organic fresh jalapenos but I always have the powdered version and I sprinkle it on everything!

Contradictions like this don’t make sense to me and I will not be able to avoid the avoids without explanations. If SWAMI doesn’t generate the explanations, where can I get them? Should I start a thread for each of my concerns? Will they be in the textbook? Where do I get the textbook?

I received the shipping notice for the SWAMI disc so I should have it by the end of the week. I’m going to use the book in the meantime.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Why do you have a "B" avatar if you think you are Type O? Seems mighty confusing to me...

It will be REALLY good to know which you are before starting down the wrong path and wondering why you aren't getting the expected results...

How do I change the avatar? I didn't purposely set it to "B".

Never mind, I found where to change it.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

I checked the advanced calculator and secretor status didn't seem to make a difference.

What did make a difference was finger length combined with whether I was O+ or O-. If my hands are different, and I suspect they are, and I'm an O-, then I'm an Explorer.

I forgot to call my doc about my blood type but I'm pretty sure I'm not O- so regardless of finger length, I'm a Gatherer.

Out of curiosity, I do want to know my PROP and secretor status so I will probably see the doc and have her do those tests and validate all my measurements. It would probably make the SWAMI more accurate.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

You are right, I shouldn't have used the word "all". I changed it to read, "most of us older folks" because K2 helps build bones and many people loose bone mass as they age. I know I have so I take K2 (from nattokinase) and I hope I won't have to give it up.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Mayonnaise is frequently an avoid because it contains vinegar. There may be other issues in your case.

If you can make it (or buy it) with only compliant ingredients, you can eat it.

Whew! I make it with lemon juice.

I didn't see apple cider vinegar as an avoid so I assumed it was a neutral. Is it? Or has it not been tested?

If it's not an avoid, can I use it to make pickles? They were also an avoid but I never buy them, I make my own.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Remember food values may change when you get SWAMI! So you may not want to spend too much time fretting about current vales.

Yes, I know this, but I'm eager to get started, and the things I listed are some of my favorite foods.

I'm very concerned about the chili powder. I really do put it on everything and have at least 10 different kinds. I always thought it was good for me.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Black pepper is usually due to contamination with mold. Again there may be other issues in your case.

I saw the thread about black pepper. I researched the claim and found a document indicating that from 1987 through 2011 black pepper shipments from India required a certification that they were salmonella-free, but there was no mention of mold. I also found a report on irradiation indicating that it can reduce mold growth in some spices.

Supposedly, whole corns that are fleshly ground are OK for some people. So, if non-organic (i.e. irradiated) peppercorns crushed in a mortar are OK (to avoid contamination from the grounds that remain in the grinding mechanism of a pepper mill), could I use them?

Or, if non-organic peppercorns are proscribed because of a heavy pesticide load, but I can 'irradiate' them myself by zapping them in the microwave and then crush them in the mortar, would that make them a neutral?

Or, is 'dead' mold is just as dangerous as live mold?

It's never a black and white; I'm always looking for a detailed explanation.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

If it helps, I think most of us here have had the same questions. Aside from the aforementioned reasons, there seems to be many instances where the processing of foods change them in ways that could have a negative effect on your health. Intake quantity as well, for instance carrots -vs- carrot juice for some folks. Some restrictions may also change over time as well. Do try to be as compliant as possible.

If it helps, I think most of us here have had the same questions. Aside from the aforementioned reasons, there seems to be many instances where the processing of foods change them in ways that could have a negative effect on your health. Intake quantity as well, for instance carrots -vs- carrot juice for some folks. Some restrictions may also change over time as well. Do try to be as compliant as possible.

Thank you for explaining the juice question. I wondered why cucumbers were OK but not cucumber juice. However, what is in cucumbers that I shouldn't eat too much of?

I intend to be 100% compliant. If I understand what a given food will do to me, I won't be able to eat it no matter how good it tastes, which is why I'm so interested in the science behind the recommendations.

I will search the forum for the foods I'm most concerned about and then start a thread for the ones I haven't found answers to.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

If I understand what a given food will do to me, I won't be able to eat it no matter how good it tastes, which is why I'm so interested in the science behind the recommendations.

I agree that it's hard to not have the explanations at your fingertips. I imagine it's way more data than we could handle, or that we'd cherry-pick which parts of the program to accept. Better to go in heart first.

Remember food values may change when you get SWAMI! So you may not want to spend too much time fretting about current vales.

Well, I broke down and had a Naturepath doctor help me fill out the SWAMI form and, you were right.

I am, unbelievably, a Hunter! Is there a way to get that into my avatar?

I haven't done the secretor test yet but, either way, I'm a hunter, so I will just avoid the foods that would change status until I get the secretor test back.

The two biggies for me are avocados and coconut oil which are allowed for non-secretors but avoids for secretors. I currently eat a lot of both. I could live without the coconut oil but there is no substitute for avocados so I'm hoping I'm a non-secretor.

Thankfully, jalapenos are a diamond, and chili powder is a neutral!

I have lots of new questions now but I will start a new thread for each of them to keep them organized.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

The belt system is just an adaptation from the system of martial arts that Dr. D'Adamo practices. In our bulletin board community belt color and style signifies 'seniority' by virtue of the total number of posts that individual has contributed and the service to the community. Of course, 'quantity' of posts is no guarantee of 'quality', but many high volume posters are committed, knowledgeable and helpful individuals. The nomenclature is Korean. Light-hearted, but also not. Member's screen names are shown in the color of the titles below.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

But Dr. D'Adamo has said that small difference in finger lengths can be treated as the same.

When the naturepath measured my fingers, she used the kit tool which is the same gizmo used to measure jaw angle but it has a movable 'stopper' on the end. The measurements she came up with were totally different than mine.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

The GenoType Diet book arrived today and, if I measured my fingers correctly, I am probably a Gatherer which is OK because many of the diamonds and superfoods are favorites.

However, if I’m to give up yogurt, black pepper, chili powder, cauliflower, leeks and mayonnaise I need the reason!

The general guidelines in the book didn’t help. For instance, it says, “these superfoods are rich in vitamins, minerals, purines, and nucleotides from proteins and cultured foods.” But, yogurt, pickles, natto, sour cream, and sauerkraut are all avoids and they’re both cultured and loaded with nutrients.

Why is natto an avoid? It’s the best source of vitamin K2 and many of us older folks need more of it.

Why are leeks an avoid when onions, shallots and garlic are all superfoods?

Fresh jalapeno is a superfood but chili powder is an avoid? I can’t often find organic fresh jalapenos but I always have the powdered version and I sprinkle it on everything!

Contradictions like this don’t make sense to me and I will not be able to avoid the avoids without explanations. If SWAMI doesn’t generate the explanations, where can I get them? Should I start a thread for each of my concerns? Will they be in the textbook? Where do I get the textbook?

I received the shipping notice for the SWAMI disc so I should have it by the end of the week. I’m going to use the book in the meantime.

Hi there, you are the only one i suppose other than me who felt this way. for months I have been looking in this forum to see if others felt so. havent foudn anybody else. i need answers too, as to why some food are avoids while others are superfood. it doesnt matter if they are inthe same family or not. i just want to know, what is it about each food that is affecting me.

Meanwhile i decided to do the diet- i just followed the book- I am gatherer regardless of my secretor status. i jsut followed the book. i must say, i have seen positive changes. weight loss was not my goal. increased energy, mental sharpness, positive hair and skin changes, no binging, no mood fluxes, no cravings, i now eat by my hunger signal, listening to what my body wants, not just for the heck of it.next phase is to start for weight loss!

so I admit it works, but i want to know- what is it about all the other foods that i have eaten for half my lifetime and without problems too, i must say, no allergies etc that was affecting me badly.

Hi there, you are the only one i suppose other than me who felt this way. for months I have been looking in this forum to see if others felt so. havent foudn anybody else. i need answers too, as to why some food are avoids while others are superfood. it doesnt matter if they are inthe same family or not. i just want to know, what is it about each food that is affecting me

Actually, I think we've all been through this initially, and to a lesser degree it's an ongoing paradox.

But...

It may only seem that we're mosly complacent due to the fact that we've experienced enough success to accept the lists. Quirky as they are. You're in good company feeling as you do and asking these questions.

I've been sending the ER4YT book to friends with instructions to pore over the concept, but advance to the Genotype approach for implementation. I think you'll have a better understanding once you've read ER4YT.

One of them referenced another website, http://www.genotypediet.com, that is not free, where I was hoping I would be able to ask questions of Dr D and get a response. But, when I go to that site, the forum link brings me back here.

Is there a 'pay-per-view' type forum? As I said earlier, I am willing to pay for this information.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

One of them referenced another website, http://www.genotypediet.com, that is not free, where I was hoping I would be able to ask questions of Dr D and get a response. But, when I go to that site, the forum link brings me back here.

Is there a 'pay-per-view' type forum? As I said earlier, I am willing to pay for this information.

You may have been able to submit questions for Dr. D., but there was no guarantee that he would answer questions submitted.

When the site was managed by Water Front Media, Most questiones were answered in online forums like this one.

Dr. D. answered a few of the questions, but most questions were answered by others.

There were fewer people on the paid site so their was fewer people to answer questions, so the forum discussions were not as lively-and you were probably less likely to get a quick response to a question.

Most of the people on the paid site were also on this site. So the answers tended to be the same anyway. Lola said the same thing on the Waterfront Media Site as she says here. I said similar things as I do here, except I said fewer things related to forum administration, since I was not an administrator there.

What you are missing from the old site is not so much Dr. D.'s attention, but online calculators and meal planners.

Dr Dthat was a different creature altogether. A pay-for-use website run by Waterfront Media and Random House. Most of what was there is now available for free on genotypediet.com, except for the meal planning which was their proprietary software.

''Just follow the book, don't look for magic fixes to get you off the hook. Do the work.'' Dr.D.'98DNA mt/Haplo H; Y-chrom/J2(M172);ESTJThe harder you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you!

If I have learned anything from this thread, it's that the complexity of good nutrition is well beyond the simple conventions of eating whole grains, watching calories and fat, limiting salt and so forth. Obvious to us, perhaps, but given what I see people putting in their shopping carts would suggest that the food industry has won out over even the most basic advice from the health care industry. Did anyone see the 60 Minutes piece on food addiction 2 weeks ago? According to one food scientist, food addiction is not only good, but the stated objective of their work!

Actually, I think we've all been through this initially, and to a lesser degree it's an ongoing paradox.

But...

It may only seem that we're mosly complacent due to the fact that we've experienced enough success to accept the lists. Quirky as they are. You're in good company feeling as you do and asking these questions.

I've been sending the ER4YT book to friends with instructions to pore over the concept, but advance to the Genotype approach for implementation. I think you'll have a better understanding once you've read ER4YT.

Thank you so much for your reply. You are right, that blog explains most of it. I will get on to ER4YT.